Mékong, marchés flottants, temples : que cache vraiment le Sud Vietnam ? – Documentaire Voyage – AMP

Mékong, marchés flottants, temples : que cache vraiment le Sud Vietnam ? – Documentaire Voyage – AMP

Southern Vietnam is a
fertile land, rich in generous seabeds and a fertile river. It is also a land of history that has
managed to maintain its traditions while opening up to globalization. The region has not only managed to preserve
cultural, artistic and religious ways of life. She has been able to take advantage of her
formidable natural resources. Here is a delicious destination
at the crossroads of worlds. The coastline stretches for 3,260 kilometers. We will take you to discover
the south of the country, where before exploring the Mekong Delta,
you must stop in the largest city in Vietnam. Hospital, the former Saigon, crystallizes all the paradoxes of today’s Vietnam. It combines a thousand-year-old history,
a colonial past, a communist regime and
unbridled economic capitalism, of which these new districts are witnesses. The country’s population is approaching
100 million. It is mainly concentrated
in large urban areas and includes a wealthy middle class who can
afford to live in these luxury buildings. The city center is home to both
ultra-modern towers and historic buildings such as the headquarters of the
Hauchimineville People’s Committee. Recently renovated, it has been classified as a
national heritage site by the government. The monumental facade of the opera house and the
surrounding hotels are among the most photographed sites,
as is the Central Post Office building. A vestige of a bygone era, the place nonetheless continues to offer its postal services. The city is full of pagodas and temples. The N’Gok Wang Pagoda is one
of the most famous and colorful. Also known as the
Jade Emperor Pagoda, it was built in the late 19th century. It is a place of prayer
for locals who come to wish for peace,
prosperity or the birth of a child. Saigon’s chaotic traffic is
dominated by two-wheelers. Motorcycles and mopeds are
coming from all sides. But since everyone is driving at the same
speed, everything goes smoothly with astonishing fluidity. Despite the stifling heat,
women are often covered from head to toe,
for the sole purpose of protecting themselves from the sun. Set back from the Grands Boulevards,
we visit a calligrapher, Tong Jiamin. On request, they create paintings
bearing quotes or maxims that are supposed to bring good luck. Calligraphy
is the art of writing words with Latin characters in an aesthetic manner. Latin characters are used
to express the feelings and ideas of the person who writes them. There are several styles
as far as I’m concerned. I write with rounded,
curved, harmonious lines. Until recently, Chinese
characters were used exclusively , but most artists have
now abandoned them. For practical reasons, but also to
assert their Vietnamese identity. Calligraphy must be written
in Vietnamese so that Vietnamese people can understand the art of
calligraphy in their own language. When I offer
calligraphy works in Vietnamese, people appreciate them because they
are written in their native language. This painting expresses wishes
for prosperity and wealth.
This calligraphy is very popular at parties or celebrations. 10% of Vietnamese people are Catholic and
the capital has more than 200 parishes. The Sacré-Coeur Church in Tandine
was built in 1870. It is one of the most photogenic. Established in 1928, Bintai Market is
the focal point of Cholon’s Chinatown. It contains all the ingredients that make
Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine so rich. A myriad of acrid roots and
aromatic plants give Anca, soups and stews their
characteristic full-bodied flavor. The small adjacent streets are teeming
with coulis, these porters who come to stock up from wholesalers
to deliver throughout the capital. Motorcycles and scooters have gradually
replaced thumb-thumbs. In Vietnam,
street food is an institution. Breakfast is served here, with
spicy soups, and the rest of the day, the often
tiny stalls prepare delicious dishes. The
Vietnamese are major producers and consumers of
robusta coffee, which they brew using large cloth filters. Still in the Chinese neighborhood, Hau Xi Feng is a very special place. Built in the early 20th century
in a style influenced by the French and Chinese,
several generations have lived in this timeless place, just a few meters from
the noisy main boulevards. When the sun disappears from the facades,
the stalls of Hau Xi Qi come alive. It is one of the
most popular street foods in the city. The dishes offered are
more or less sophisticated. To each his own specialties. These three friends come from Hanoi. It made us want it. We chose this dish to try. Seafood dominates
the menu, but its preparation method
and the spices used vary from restaurant to restaurant. The plethora of options leaves these
Chinese tourists circumspect. The marrow waters are adjacent to strange crustaceans. I came here because there is
a lot of choice and everything is very good. It ‘s Saturday, so I have
some free time to come here. A few kilometers from the capital,
we set off to discover one of the jewels of Vietnamese craftsmanship,
Minlong ceramics. Whether it’s tableware
or interior design, the fourth generation of the Li family has
elevated this expertise to a level recognized worldwide.
Thousands. This is where
these unique pieces are entirely handmade. The most impressive floor is
dedicated to prestigious gifts that require hours of meticulous work. The company has invested in
high-tech ovens capable of reaching very high temperatures in order
to achieve an impeccable finish and rendering. But only the talent of the artists
truly makes the difference. The works reproduce
traditional themes with incredible precision. Some pieces require
several weeks of work. This jade basin is the
most precious object decorated at the moment. In Western countries,
cups are used to celebrate victories, while in Vietnam,
for special occasions, this type of large basins,
especially those made of jade, are used. In addition to the typical
Vietnamese symbols, there are three dragons drawn below which represent
the three regions of Vietnam: the south, the north, the center. These designs contribute
to the harmony of the whole. The company recently embarked
on a major historical research project to document the work carried out
by the family since its beginnings. Here, ancient techniques are
reused to enhance superb fine porcelain vases. Flowing from Tibet,
where it has its source, the Mekong River is the
most powerful river in Southeast Asia. It meets the sea in a delta
bordered by large agricultural lands. In Ben Tre, the gateway to the delta,
the landscape alternates between rice paddies and coconut trees. This region of the Mekong is considered
the country’s rice granary. It provides more than half
of the production, most of which is exported. At the end of March,
coconut harvesting is in full swing. These 52,000 hectares of coconut trees
produce around 400 million fruits per year. The wholesalers will distribute them
between different workshops depending on the type of transformation required. In Thuysson, the pulp
of the nut is mainly used to make confectionery. Everything is used. The water from our coconut will
be used for other preparations. The flesh
of the nut must be boiled and then pressed to extract the juice. Then mix with sugar
and move to packaging. Here we make
homemade coconut jam. And here is the final product. The sweets are supplemented with dried fruits and sell very well. A little away from the river, in Mito, the Khmer Vintra temple of Thaïsang reminds us
that this part of the country was part of Cambodia until the 18th century. During the Second Opium War, around
1860, the temple was badly damaged. Magé. Gradually restored by craftsmen
from the former imperial capital of Uea, it was able to return to full activity in 1933. In a building adjacent to the temple,
nuns are deep in prayer. Life in the Delta has been
significantly changed with the construction of major bridges. They made traffic
and therefore trade faster by road than by river. However, further west,
the people of Vinlong still use the river extensively. From dawn, ferries provide
transport from one bank to the other. Vinlong is one of the
important crossroads of the river. The city expanded around
the port and its canals. A
little away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, the Aptan Mi Lieu temple
is what the Vietnamese call a temple of literature. It was built in the 19th century to
promote the teachings of Confucius. The Chinese philosopher’s thought has
deeply influenced Vietnamese culture. It advocates morality,
family duties and a sense of duty. Kin Taike is known for its
traditional kilns, from which come out clay bricks which have
long contributed to the town’s fame. Of the 3,500 active in the
1980s, at most 400 are still active today. They are distinguished by the absence
of vegetation at their summits, the temperature being such
that nothing can resist them. We are at Wind & Dat,
the director of a family business that has been passed down for
several generations. Here, rice straw is still used
as fuel for slow, traditional cooking. But quality has its constraints. An employee constantly feeds
the ovens day and night. The cooking time is long and better
than the new cooking methods that used to produce products in one day. It’s crumbly, actually. There is a five,
six day break stage. It’s five, six days of cooking. There are as many days for
the temperature to drop as there are for the product to be released. The land arrives directly by boat. It is worked quickly
to maintain its elasticity. The job, at the moment,
is a very, very hard job. It is a profession that young people,
now very rare, will take up again
to work on the land. Dade takes us to see a house he built entirely from terracotta in 2018. It’s a very traditional house
from the era of wealthy families like Haidang. And now we recreate this atmosphere
in manufacturing using terracotta. If you look at the ceiling,
almost 80% of them are made of terracotta here. The column part, the bays, the money. And from there, there are just
the traditional wooden pigs. Further north, on the river at Sadeck, there is a
huge flower market on the banks of the Écano. Part of the production supplies
European countries, which are fond of exotic flowers. In particular, there is a large quantity
of orchids intended for export. Not forgetting the bougainvillea
which is increasingly popular. Canto has far surpassed its status
as the Delta’s main city. It has become the fifth largest city
in the country, with more than 1,300,000 inhabitants. Built in 1870 by a wealthy merchant,
then renovated in a French colonial style , the Bintuy house exhibits rare
and precious objects that have stood the test of time. From room to room, everything in an era
resurfaces, delicate and refined. This large bourgeois house also
lent its sumptuous decor to some scenes in the adaptation of
Marguerite Duras’s novel, The Lover, directed by Jean Jacanot in 1991. It was the first Western film shot
in Vietnam since the country’s reunification in 1975. The Thru Kh Lam Phong Nam Zen Monastery is
one of the largest Buddhist buildings in South Vietnam. Two recent constructions,
they play an important role in bringing together the
Buddhist community in the region. The representation of Shakyamuni Buddha
was made of bronze and weighs three and a half tons. It is a veritable campus that brings together
the faithful for prayer as well as for studying sacred texts. Six kilometers from Kanto, in Kai-Rang,
the largest floating market in the Delta is held every morning. It is a wholesale market
where the demands of the sellers come to stock up
mainly on fruits and vegetables. Due to the improvement of the road network, the number of vendors is
decreasing year by year. But there is still an active and practical market, especially since the delta remains an important agricultural lung of the country. On land,
the retail market has been in full swing since 5:00 a.m. It is customary to come shopping
very early so that you can cook before the temperatures get
too high. Sheltered from the sun, fish
and shellfish share the spotlight. They come from both the river
and the sea, located a good half hour away by boat. The vast majority of sellers
prefer live produce, which is undeniable proof of its freshness. Some catches,
generally the smallest ones, are only used to make
fish paste or sauce. Away from Canto,
in the interweaving of canals and meanders of the river,
treasures are sometimes hidden. Near the rice fields stands
the Khmer Fulie pagoda. Built in 1672,
its architecture combines Indian, Thai and Cambodian influences. In the Kmer language,
we say kome, which designates one
of the 54 ethnic groups that exist in Vietnam, of which we are a part. However, all Khmer people
practice Buddhism. The Mekong Delta was
once part of the Khmer kingdom. At its peak in the 12th century,
it included almost all of Indochina. The temple is regularly maintained
and renovated thanks to the generosity of the Khmer diaspora living abroad. This pagoda is not
just a place of prayer. It is also a place of peace,
a place where the relics of deceased Khmer people are kept,
where children can learn the Khmer and Vietnamese languages. Or the man’s harcourt. Canto is the last major city
before reaching the South China Sea. Once past the suburbs
of the metropolis, the river widens and the houses become rarer. Among the islands in the south of the country,
the K’un Dao archipelago, located 80 kilometers from the mouth of the
Mekong, is undoubtedly the most unique. With a very marked relief,
K’un Dao was above all known for being a very harsh bath, managed successively
by the French and the Americans. The main island, still little known,
enjoys a rare tranquility, but it is beginning to attract visitors
seduced by its beaches and nature. In the center of the small town
of K’Ondao, the former governor’s palace gives an idea of ​​the
colonial and island lifestyle of the time, far from the hustle and bustle of Saigo. The well-maintained body gardens
are a popular place for walking. Away from the center is the entrance
to a place of sinister memory: the Bagne de Poulot le Condor. Originally used by the Viettes
to banish opponents, the French took over in 1862,
with the arrival of the first convicts. The mortality rate there was very high. In 1940, the center expanded with
the appearance of so-called tiger cage cells , where some inmates were
permanently held in irons. Above the small town,
the Vanson Temple is an imposing Buddhist monastery. It was built in 1964 for the benefit
of officers who worked in the prison and
government officials who were stationed on the island. The site later became a memorial
to all Vietnamese who died during the various conflicts. The wild aspect of the place does not leave
lovers of sunny discoveries indifferent ,
but the whole archipelago has relatively few hotels and most of
the coasts are still preserved. At the entrance to a village,
a scaffolding catches the eye. It is a huge tree trunk
that has been worked by an artist. As you approach, you can see small
Buddhas sculpted into the trunk in different poses. The work is particularly astonishing. Everything was carved from a single piece from the
trunk of a badamier, a tropical tree. Trinque Vantai found this tree and
entrusted an artist with the task of working on it. K’o’o means many children,
which also means prosperity. This almond tree is dead,
but I used its trunk to create this sculpture,
giving it new life. Visitors come to take pictures of it
and will stop in front of my store. This is a very demanding order. You have to stay very focused,
sculpting in one piece requires precision and you ca
n’t afford to make mistakes. The sculpture still needs to be transferred
to its final base before it can be the pride of the entire island. Nearby, the island’s most famous beach
, Ovo de l’Ouai, confirms that Kondao has many assets
that should be well protected. We now head north to
what are called the highlands. Let’s first stop in Dalat, a city
that reminds many of Europe. The French settled in Dalat
in 1912 to escape the heat of Saigon and enjoy a very pleasant climate. It is true that at 1,500 meters above sea level,
the air is cleaner and the evenings are cooler. The Lamedong plateaus, which surround
the city, are a coffee-growing land. Pierre Morère is the fourth
generation to settle here. Long before the first settlers,
his great-grandfather was already a farmer in the region. Pierre specializes in
tasting coffee, an exceptional product for which
certain rules must be respected, such as the quality and temperature
of the water, and above all its origin, Reunion Island Bourbon coffee. Vietnam is a big consumer of coffee. Business happens at the cafe. There are a lot of coffee shops. And
Vietnamese people like to drink a café au lait or a robusta coffee, which is
very dense and very strong. Pierre was born in Saigon and returned
to Vietnam in 2007 to take over all the work undertaken by his father
in the highlands, 1 hour drive from Dalat. Photos and accessories from the period
decorate the store. We are in Dassar,
in what is called the forest here, at an altitude of over 1,500 meters. His grandfather understood
that the soil had all the qualities needed to grow cattle and coffee. Pierre comes to greet the mayor of the village
who worked with his family, Mr. Adoy. Tcheoui. Dewey. I work with my grandparents. He is almost 70 years old, maybe 80 years old. And so, it was with them that I had coffee
at the same time as Bang and Kamang. Here we are in Dassard,
so 20 km from Dalat. And the family arrived in Indochina,
yes, first through Ouet, the town of Hauet. The great-grandfather, Auguste Pharo, was a
gardener at a port in Hauet and therefore passionate about beekeeping. He then went
to Dalat to settle down. Adoye proudly displays his wall
of photos and awards. A few meters further down in the village,
Pierre goes to Keimang and Hapang’s house. The couple worked for a long time on the
plantation alongside Pierre’s father. They have forgotten French a little. How old were you with Mrs. Farouh? I don’t remember
how old I was at the time. I worked as a home help,
cooking and cleaning, but I didn’t go outside. When Pierre decided to return
to Vietnam, this family hosted him for ten years to help him
restart the plantation. Today, he still buys
their forest-harvested coffee. About fifteen minutes from the village,
Pierre’s Bourbon coffee plantation covers several hectares. After more than 17 years here,
he still does not consider himself bilingual. It’s a language that is
very musical and which, although not easy to understand, I
learned as part of my job. And it’s the same today with
the Montagnards who, at the time, frequented the French, we communicate
in Vietnamese, in Nontille and Koro and in French. The variety comes in red,
yellow, orange or pink Bourbon. But it is the Bourbon
Pointe variety that is the most sought after. It is a period which is quite
short in terms of flowering. It lasts 15 days, 15 days, 3 weeks. And like a bee,
it flies up to three kilometers. It ‘s the flowering season right now,
so they’re going to focus on those coffee flowers
that look and smell like jasmine. Pierre also produces
a highly sought-after honey. The city of Dalat
developed around its lake. Retired by its mild climate,
the French settlers built numerous villas on the hill reminiscent of the Norman cottages. Next door, Bao Dai’s Summer Palace,
one of the residences where Vietnam’s last emperor came to seek peace
and comfort, is also part of a bygone era. Built between 1933 and 1938,
this Art Deco building, now a museum, is a good illustration of Dallat’s modernist style. It was part of a
city beautification project. Dallat station also fits
into this modernist concept. These old locomotives
are a delight for visitors. The luxury Dallat Palace hotel
predates the palace and the train station. It was built in 1922. In the suburbs of Dallat,
robusta plantations dominate the landscape. The village of Tanung is mainly
inhabited by the Keo minority, who live in the
Lamdang highlands. They have their own language and
most of them work in the cafe. The Keos are also fine craftsmen. They work bamboo and
pandanus leaves with some efficiency. The trays these women make
are commonly used for sorting coffee, tea or rice. In the village there is a very amazing place created by the artist Rocky Tienne. He imagined here a place where he could
share and make known the way of life of the Keos from whom he comes. Rocky Tienne mobilized his entire
community to collect tools and utensils. He also valued the
sculpting talents of each individual. A titanic and resourceful task
that took him several years. The Keos were the first inhabitants
of the highlands before the French came here to discover the region. So it’s very important nowadays,
because they all work in the cafe, but in the evening they come to share all
the music and traditions with the spectators. Building such a high rock,
complete with a waterfall, required a lot of imagination. Upstairs, he has collected many
kitchen utensils and everyday objects. At the entrance to the restaurant,
the Keos totem welcomes visitors. Some evenings,
Rocky offers a dinner show incorporating traditional songs and dances
performed by amateurs. I noticed that the population here
knows less and less about our traditions. On the other hand, people prefer
something more modern. That’s why I built all this
to try to preserve the culture of the highlands and share it
with all the people of Vietnam. While
traditional Keo dishes are served, the show then becomes interactive. Spectators are invited to participate in
the dancing and taste the drink. Crocan, a fermented rice wine with
wild herbs that is sipped through giant straws. The show has enjoyed some success, especially since Rocky introduced
more rhythmic and contemporary music than just gongs. He knows the choreographies by heart. Guests, delighted by the experience,
often invite him to have a drink with them. Before leaving Dalat, we must admire the Linantou pagoda and its immense statue. Standing 70 meters high,
it represents a Bodhisattva, a sage who has reached all the degrees
of perfection, except the last one by which he would have become Buddha. Just opposite, the course of the
Kamli River drops an impressive 30 meters before
calmly resuming its course. The South China Sea coast is renowned as one of the most
beautiful in Southeast Asia. Near Vangia Bay,
close to the sea, farmers are in the middle of harvesting rice. This must be
done before the strong heat of April and the arrival of the monsoon. Along with China and India,
the country is one of the world’s largest rice exporters. Huge fields of lotus flowers
are cultivated just opposite. This aquatic plant thrives
in very moist soil. These buds open mostly in the morning,
closing later in the day to protect themselves from the heat. Widely used as an offering,
the Lotus flower is also widely consumed in everyday cooking. The heart of the flower, which has not yet
burst from the water, is full of seeds that are very popular in salads. Vietnamese people have
a complicated relationship with the sun, especially women who want to
have the fairest skin possible. That’s why, every time they
go out, they literally cover themselves from head to toe. A precaution that continues until
sunset when people just begin to bathe, but in modest clothing. The fishing port of Vanecia comes alive
while it is still dark. Whatever their size,
the boats return to deliver their cargo at sunrise. To reach the jetty,
fishermen use a traditional type of boat.
Traditional, a basket boat. It is most often made of
woven bamboo, but increasingly, these hoi han are made of resin. Usually, it is the men who go out
to sea and the women who manage the sales. Negotiations can
quickly become very noisy. The
beautiful pieces are intended for restaurant kitchens
or for certain individuals. The smallest catches will be sold
by the basketful and will be used to make chili paste or sauce. Vangia Bay extends into a wild peninsula with astonishing relief. In particular, there is a
significant concentration of shrimp farming ponds. The most surprising thing is located at the end
of the small peninsula, lobster farms which occupy the entire landscape. A little further south, in Vinluong,
the fishing port is also very active. It accommodates
larger units. This morning, small crabs
and crustaceans are the stars. Large catches such as groupers are traded on the quays. The ballet of arrivals and unloading
is perfectly orchestrated. The fish arrive already sorted
by crate and covered in ice. Everything must be in place
before 7:00 a.m. With its 6 km of white sand beach,
Nathrang is the country’s largest seaside resort. It is attracting more and more people,
with the result being a dizzying real estate expansion. The Cathedral of Christ the King occupies
an important place in the city center. It was built by the French
around 1930 in a neo-Gothic style. Although built from simple
cement blocks, the building still exudes a certain elegance. At the mouth of the Kai River lies
one of the oldest temples in South Vietnam: Po Nagar. It was built in the 8th
century by the Sham people. This Hindu place of worship was dedicated
to the goddess Yann Po Nagar, legendary founder of the kingdom of Champa. Four towers still stand
on the site, surprisingly well preserved. Their manufacturing secret remains
partly an enigma for researchers. Ponagar remains an active place of worship for the Cham, a minority who today live mainly in the en bodge. Most of the shops
on the main avenues have both a commercial frontage and, at the back,
or even above, a private dwelling. Nguyen Titu Yen is a seamstress
specializing in rosettes. These long traditional dresses are
made to measure. His workshop is located at the entrance and his
kitchen is located at the back of the room. The clients follow one another
informally. She doesn’t have a minute’s rest. Nowadays, the aille rise is
worn on many occasions. Whether it’s employees for their work
or for outings or to take photos. But women wear the rise
especially during big celebrations. Tuyenne works without a pattern, because she
knows all these models by heart. She just needs to take
her clients’ measurements. The hazai has modernized. There are several types. Before, the sleeves were sewn tightly
and the collar rose high. Today, the collar is often round, but the basic principle of a long dress is still the same. Today these children came
home early from school. So Thuyenne is going to cook
for lunch. She prepares a
kanchuaka soup made from fish. It’s a hot and sour soup. I’m going to sauté the onions and garlic
until they give off a pleasant aroma. Add the tomato and
mix with the sautéed garlic. Just a little water like that is enough. We add tamarind to my pan
which will bring a sweet and sour taste. You can also add another tomato. Fresh onions will be added at the end. We wait for the water to boil
before adding the swordfish. We’re going to add a chili pepper to the pan. And a little sugar. She only keeps the pulp
of the tamarind and removes its skin. Bean sprouts,
banana flowers and some herbs complete the soup. At the very end of cooking,
she adds a few pieces of fish. I fry the last
slice of fish. Not forgetting gnoc nam,
fish sauce. It is essential for the taste. The rice was cooked separately. The family can now enjoy themselves. Around Nathrang, there are small
bays with turquoise waters and fine sand. A coastline of great beauty
that urgently needs to be protected. These constant contrasts between
a large, expanding city and splendid nature
are undoubtedly the spirit of today’s Vietnam, sometimes mysterious, elusive, without forgetting to constantly seduce us.

Un Vietnam multiple, entre rizières, pagodes et marchés flottants. ✋Les plus belles destinations, c’est ici 👉 https://bit.ly/2Vlfz9o 👈 Abonnez vous ! 🙏

00:00 – Introduction au Sud Vietnam
00:44 – Ho Chi Minh : ville de contrastes
11:05 – Le delta du Mékong, grenier à riz du pays
19:40 – Cần Thơ et les marchés flottants
25:49 – L’archipel préservé de Côn Đảo
30:06 – Dalat, ville de montagne et caféiers
45:01 – Nha Trang et la côte centrale

Evasions sublimes : Le Sud du Vietnam se caractérise par sa diversité tant au niveau culturel que naturel.

Ce film nous montre un pays où les traditions ancestrales côtoient la modernité des grandes villes.

Des marchés flottants du Mékong aux rizières en terrasses, des temples bouddhistes aux paysages luxuriants, le Sud Vietnam dévoile ses mille visages.

À découvrir sur Voyage du Bout du Monde
INDONÉSIE, l’archipel aux 500 VOLCANS : Entre Traditions et Éruptions https://youtu.be/qP5hTNPrkOo
Kapuas, le fleuve qui murmure à la mer – Bornéo indonésien https://youtu.be/I2ZJHUkzvC0
Java, l’île des volcans sacrés et des mille traditions https://youtu.be/9qMRDAHzJV8
Indonésie – Padang – Minangkabau – Jakarta – Des trains pas comme les autres https://youtu.be/jDSFYR53ISQ

“SUD VIETNAM, L’ASIE AUX MILLE VISAGES”
Un film d’Éric Bacos
Droits réservés

#Vietnam #DocumentaireVoyage #Mekong #Asie #Culture